Northern Territory Police cars rammed in crime spree, sparking calls for protection from criminals
Police are calling for more protection after two of their cars were rammed by brazen criminals and hundreds of incidents of assaults against their members reported. See the shocking statistics.
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Police say urgent action is needed to keep officers safe after two police cars were rammed in Katherine overnight.
Two police cars parked on Katherine Tce were rammed by what police will allege were vehicles stolen from the Northern Land Council compound.
At 11pm, police received reports two youths were driving stolen cars recklessly through Katherine before the vehicles were driven into the police cars, causing significant damage.
A sergeant’s vehicle and a marked police car were targeted in the attack.
Both stolen cars were recovered after the incident.
Video of the incident shows a car driving towards the parked cars before suddenly veering into them.
Shouting can then be heard and police can be seen chasing people down the street.
The Northern Territory Police Association president Paul McCue said it was the second time in as many weeks that police have been targeted by offenders in stolen cars.
“It’s an absolute miracle one of our officers, or a member of the public, wasn’t maimed or killed,” he said.
Mr McCue said data provided to the NTPA by NT Police showed 72 police officers had been assaulted in the past 122 days, while 212 officers were attacked in the 2022 financial year.
He said 1054 police officers had been assaulted in the past five years.
Mr McCue said the Territory Government needed to do more to protect officers.
“If politicians were being attacked at the same rates, they’d strengthen the laws immediately. So why are violent attacks on our members being tolerated by Government?” he said.
“It is our expectation, and that of the community, that offenders who assault police face tough punishment.
“Where is the promised working group regarding assaults on frontline workers?
“The silence is deafening — our members are not the Government’s punching bags.
“This type of violent, reckless, dangerous offending is escalating, and our members want to know what is being done to ensure their safety.”
NT Police have identified five potential offenders.
Superintendent Craig Garland said the behaviour of the offenders was “abhorrent” and “absolutely unacceptable”.
“The actions of these offenders could have led to the death of innocent bystanders,” he said.
NT Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy said three youths, one aged 14 and two aged 16, had been taken into custody, with two more suspected offenders yet to be identified.
He said the three youths in custody were known to police, with two on bail for previous offences and one an existing arrest target.
The Katherine golf course and a number of businesses were targeted during the offending, with jewellery believed to have been stolen from a business in a ram-raid.
The Katherine High School oval was also damaged.
“Thankfully no one was hurt or killed,” Mr Murphy said.
‘We’ve acted swiftly through the morning with investigators … and we’ll continue with our investigation.”
Mr Murphy said offenders targeting police was “absolutely concerning”.
“It’s a complex and dangerous job we put ourselves in each and every day,” he said.
“We see police officers assaulted, spat at, kicked, hit with weapons, punched. No police officer deserves to go to work and be assaulted.”
Mr Murphy said he was concerned offenders were playing a “game of one-upmanship” after seeing videos on social media of crimes being committed.
He said police would do everything possible to stop crime seen in Alice Springs and Katherine spreading to Darwin.
Police requested anyone who knew the whereabouts of a Toyota Dual Cab Landcruiser with registration NLC053 to contact them.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Large scale search operation launched on remote island
A large-scale search and rescue mission is underway for a missing man on a remote Arnhem Land island.
Police are searching for a missing 31-year-old man on Milingimbi Island, about 450km east of Darwin.
The man was last seen on Thursday, police were notified on Saturday he was missing and a search began on Monday.
Crocodile Island rangers, local community members, police from Jabiru, water police and the Territory Response Unit are taking part in the search which includes two helicopters and a utility terrain vehicle.
Superintendent Drew Slape said the entire 50km island was being searched.
“That includes 50km of roads and tracks, and the helicopters are continually covering all areas of the island to give us the best chance of finding the man,” he said.
Woman dragged into ocean in alleged assault
A woman suffered “significant” bleeding before being dragged to the ocean by her partner, police allege, at a popular Darwin coastal track on the weekend.
At 8am on Saturday, the woman and her partner were near Lake Alexander when they began to argue.
Police said the man threw a glass bottle at the woman, which caused a large laceration to her arm and significant bleeding.
He then allegedly dragged her to the ocean and pushed her into the water.
A bystander intervened and provided first aid, while other witnesses contacted emergency services.
Police and St John Ambulance arrived shortly later and the man, aged 37, was arrested at the scene.
He has been charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endanger serious harm, and is due to face court on Monday.
The 39-year-old victim was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital where she received treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
Sergeant Caragh Hen said Strike Force Lyra was continuing to investigate the incident.
“It’s horrendous behaviour that the woman has had to endure,” Sergeant Hen said.
“We would like to thank members of the public who rendered aid and we are aware that there were a number of other people in the immediate vicinity.
“We ask that if not already spoken to, they make contact with police to assist with inquiries.
“Domestic and family violence has no place in our community.
“If you, or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, please reach out on 131 444 or in an emergency triple-0.
“Support services are available including, but not limited to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline on 131 114.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Please quote reference number 10172045.
Teen arrested after alleged break-in
A teenager has been arrested after allegedly breaking into an Anula property and attempting to steal a car, which she stalled trying to escape.
Police allege an 18-year-old woman entered a property on Yanyula Dr and started searching through the property before waking up the residents while trying to steal items from their bedroom.
The male resident confronted the woman before she ran from the property and tried to steal a car to escape.
When the car stalled, she allegedly scaled a fence to flee and struck the male resident in the face.
The woman was spotted in Kohinoor St and a cordon was established before NT Police’s Dog Operations Unit was called in.
Patrol Dog Arnhem and his handler Senior Constable Ben Stove pounced and the woman was arrested.
The 18-year-old was charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated unlawful entry and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
She was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Local Court today.
Youth allegedly drags victim from vehicle in aggravated assault
Police say two females were forced to flee for shelter after a 15-year-old boy dragged one of the victims out of a car.
Shortly before 2pm on Friday, police received a report a woman aged 26 and a 16-year-old girl were threatened by an offender.
Police said the pair tried to escape when the 15-year-old male allegedly dragged the other teen from their vehicle.
The woman and teenage girl fled to a nearby unit for shelter, police said, before the boy forcefully gained entry into the premises.
Police said he threatened the 16-year-old and left the scene with her.
Officers found the boy the following day and subsequently arrested him.
He is due to face court on Monday on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of property to damage.
Home destroyed in Top End blaze
A house has been destroyed in fire that sent black smoke billowing over the Top End on Sunday.
NT Police media director Rob Cross said emergency services were called to the vicinity of McMillans and Secrett roads, Knuckey Lagoon, at 10.30am.
After containing the fire, the two crews from Berrimah and Marrara left the scene about 2.30pm, only for one to be called back.
“They became aware of possible flare ups and potential hot spots and so returned to the building,” Mr Cross said.
“The cause of the fire is not yet determined.
“It’s not being treated as suspicious.”
Mr Cross said no one was inside the house and that there were two houses on the property.
Police issued an alert about 1pm advising motorists to take caution due to smoke impacting the area.
Fire crews remain at the scene.
Car runs through fence, hits sleeping man in Top End suburb
A man is in hospital after being run over by a car that tore through his suburban fence.
About 4.30am on Saturday, a small grey SUV drove through the fence of a residence on Bonson Terrace, Moulden.
Police say the driver ran over the man who was asleep in his front yard, before leaving the scene.
The man was taken to hospital with suspected abdominal, hip and rib injuries, in a stable condition.
Police are calling for any information or witnesses to the incident.
The car, which is suspected to be a Kia Sportage, is likely to have sustained damage.
Those with information are urged to contact police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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